12 Days of Track and Field Trivia: Day Four


Ashlyn Hare joined the Colorado all-time top ten list in the high school girls high jump last spring with this jump. Contributed photo.

Day Four Question:

By clearing 5-10, Ashlyn Hare joined the Colorado all-time top ten in the high jump. Prior to Hare's clearance on May 7 of this year, how long had it been since an incursion had been made onto that list?



And, now, if you scroll down, you can see the answer to the Day Three question. But, so that nobody inadvertently sees the answer, you will have to scroll down a little:










Day Three Answer:

Erik Bell already gave us some background on the D'Evelyn-Eagle Valley tie for the 3A state title in 2004. And, as Erik pointed out, neither team had a 4x400 relay in finals (D'Evelyn did not even have a 4x400 team at State that year). Eagle Valley's effort was spearheaded by Brad Gamble, who won both hurdle events--and still owns the 3A state meet record in the 110 hurdles--and the long jump. D'Evelyn's effort was spearheaded by John McGuire, who swept the 800, 1600, and 3200, winning by margins of five, seven, and 21 seconds. In all, the two teams won 13 of 18 event titles and scored in 16 of the 18 state meet events that year. D'Evelyn won titles in the triple jump and shot put which, I believe, are the last field event state titles won by that school (but correct me, please, if I've missed something there).

Nevertheless, the two teams that tied that weekend (the state meet was at the time a Friday/Saturday affair) could scarcely have been more different. To illustrate the different strengths of the teams, I've compiled a table of point distribution below. You will note, in particular, that there was only one event that both teams scored in.


Event D'Evelyn Eagle Valley
100 10 + 2
200 10
400 2
800 10
1600 10
3200 10 + 4 + 1
110H 10
300H 10
4x100 10
4x200 10
4x400
4x800 10
HJ
PV 3
LJ 6 10
TJ 10 + 4
SP 10
DT 4
Total 78 78

Note further that the state meets at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo only scored eight places. Had nine places scored (hypothetically), D'Evelyn would have picked up an extra point in each of the 1600, 3200 (two points), pole vault, long jump, and triple jump for a total of 84. D'Evelyn also tied for ninth in prelims of the 200 and could have potentially picked up additional points there as well. Eagle Valley would have picked up additional points in the 100, 400, and discus for a total of 81. Both D'Evelyn and Eagle Valley had additional pole vaulters and Eagle Valley a triple jumper who could have potentially lodged a ninth-place effort, but places were kept only through eighth in the state meet results of that year.